Psionicist/Necromancer

This combination has interesting possibilities. Many psionic disciplines (particularly psychometabolism) include abilities which affect the processes of healing, disease, and death—perfect powers for the necromancer. For instance, Tanith Lee’s novel Kill the Dead explores the theme of a psychic ghost hunter whose mental powers enable him to sense and manipulate spiritual forces. Indeed, it is easy to imagine how dabbling with such psychic skills could lead to a wizard’s career in the Art.

If the DM is interested in further exploring the theme of the necromantic psionicist, refer to DRAGON® #200, where “The Even More Complete Psionicist” details the Spiritualist Kit: a psionicist who specializes in communicating with the spirits of the dead. The Spiritualist could play a similar in role in a campaign to the Witch necromancer who serves primarily as a diviner. For more psionicist kits and further ideas to flesh out a dual-classed necromancer/psionicist, see also “Open Your Mind” in DRAGON #191.

Along with the requisite 17 Int, this dual-classed character would require a 15 Con (in addition to the usual 16 Wis). An NPC’s level of experience as a psionicist may be quickly determined by rolling 2d4 (resulting in 2nd to 8th level). While the character would undoubtedly benefit from a psionicist’s wide range of mental abilities (as detailed in the Complete Psionics Handbook), the added complexity could render the NPC difficult to role-play effectively. Those DM’s wishing to integrate psionics with the necromancer in a more limited and manageable fashion may care to employ wild talents rather than full-fledged psionicists.

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